2001-04-06 04:00:00 PDT Sacramento -- After a long day of haggling, both houses of the Legislature yesterday approved a $1.1 billion package of energy conservation measures designed to cut California electricity use as quickly as possible.

Much of the money goes to existing state programs offering loans, grants and cash to business, agricultural, residential and low-income ratepayers. Gov.

One-fifth of the $1.1 billion is devoted to programs helping the state's poorest consumers.

Of the $240 million in low-income aid, $100 million will go to subsidize up to 25 percent of gas or electric bills in low-income households.

A poor household is defined as one that is below 150 percent of the federal poverty level -- roughly a family of four earning $25,000.

The program, known as California Alternate Rates for Energy, is administered by the utilities and paid for by $180 million in surcharges on other consumers' bills. The $100 million will go to expand the program.

An additional $120 million is pegged for a program that helps households below 60 percent of the state median income -- $33,000 for a family of four.

The program offers subsidies and grants for home-energy efficiencies like insulation, weather-stripping and low-flow shower heads.

Among the other programs receiving more money:

-- $50 million to beef up new air conditioner and refrigerator rebate programs run by local utilities.

-- $50 million in 3 percent loans to replace inefficient display refrigerators like the ones that hold drinks in mini-marts, liquor stores or convenience stores.

-- $60 million to municipal utilities like those in Sacramento, Alameda and Palo Alto to expand their conservation efforts.

-- $10 million for cities and counties to replace stoplights with energy efficient light-emitting diodes or LEDs.

-- $35 million in grants to businesses that recoat the roofs of their low- story buildings with reflective surfaces.

-- $35 million to create "demand responsive" buildings that use an Internet connection that can automatically adjust thermostats or lights when power alerts are called.

-- $50 million for a grab bag program for other innovative energy savings.